OVP belies Panelo accusation Robredo used gov't plane in Bicol relief ops

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday belied the accusation of chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo that she used a government-owned C130 plane when she brought aid to typhoon victims in the Bicol region last week.

"Secretary Panelo should get his facts straight," said Robredo's spokesperson, lawyer Ibarra Gutierrez, after Panelo, in his public affairs show Counterpoint, accused Robredo of having a "free ride" on government resources in her relief efforts.

Gutierrez said it is saddening that a government official like Panelo would lie even as many Filipinos are in dire need of government assistance due to the effects of past typhoons.

"Nakakalungkot lang, tumutulong si Vice President Leni sa mga tinamaan ng bagyo at baha… imbes na suporta, paninira at kasinungalingan ang binabato,” he said.

"Ano ba ang mga ito, lingkod bayan o troll?" Gutierrez asked.

Robredo on Tuesday visited Polilio Island in Quezon to distribute aid to typhoon victims.

Prior to her trip to Polilio island, Robredo and her staff visited other typhoon-ravaged areas like Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Marikina City, Rizal, Cagayan and Isabela to provide relief and other forms of aid.

Robredo’s office, in partnership with private donors, has been giving ready-to-eat meals, mattresses, diapers for adults and children, sanitary napkin, nipa shingles, laminated sacks, rice, slippers, canned goods, milk, coffee, noodles, towels blankets, and water to the evacuees displaced by the typhoons. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News